Cascode gain boosting system and method for a transmitter

• US 7,737,788 B1
• Filed: 12/20/2007
• Issued: 06/15/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/09/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Marvell Asia Pte Limited (Marvell Technology Group Limited)
• Original Assignee: Marvell International Limited (Marvell Technology Group Limited)
• Inventors: Sutardja, Sehat, Roo, Pierte
• Primary Examiner(s): CHOE, HENRY
• Application Number:
  US12/004,261
• Time in Patent Office: 908 Days
• Field of Search: 330/98, 330/150, 330/253, 330/260, 330/261, 330/310, 330/311
• US Class Current: 330/311
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 1/22 by use of cascode coupling, i.e. earthed cathode or emitter stage followed by earthed grid or base stage respectively
• CPC Class Codes: H03F 3/265 with field-effect transistors only

Abstract

A communication device includes a first polarity driver circuit including a first current source, a first amplifier that receives an input signal, that controls the first current source, and that receives a signal from the first current source, a first cascode device arranged in a cascode configuration with the first current source, and a second amplifier that receives a bias signal, that controls the first cascode device, and that receives a signal from the first cascode device.

Claims

1. A communication device comprising:

a first polarity driver circuit comprising;

a first current source;

a first amplifier that

receives a data input signal,

controls the first current source, and

receives a signal from the first current source;

a first cascode device arranged in a cascode configuration with the first current source,

wherein the data input signal comprises an input voltage signal, and wherein the first amplifier and the first current source convert the input voltage signal into a corresponding current signal that is output to the first cascode device; and

a second amplifier that

receives a bias signal,

controls the first cascode device, and

receives a signal from the first cascode device.

2. The communication device of claim 1 wherein the first polarity driver circuit generates a transmit signal component of a differential signal having a first polarity.

3. The communication device of claim 2 wherein the first cascode device outputs the transmit signal component.

4. The communication device of claim 1 wherein the second amplifier increases gain provided by the first cascode device.

5. The communication device of claim 1 wherein the second amplifier is selected from the group consisting of a differential amplifier and a feedback amplifier.

6. The communication device of claim 1 wherein the first cascode device comprises a transistor.

7. The communication device of claim 1 wherein the first current source comprises a transistor in communication with a load.

8. The communication device of claim 1 further comprising a bias signal device that communicates with the second amplifier and that generates the bias signal for biasing the first polarity driver circuit.

9. The communication device of claim 8 further comprising a bias signal control device that controls the bias signal circuit to alter the bias signal.

10. The communication device of claim 1 further comprising:

a second polarity driver circuit comprising;

a second current source;

a third amplifier that

receives a second data input signal,

controls the second current source, and

receives a signal from the second current source;

a second cascode device arranged in a cascode configuration with the second current source; and

a fourth amplifier that

receives a bias signal,

controls the second cascode device, and

receives a signal from the second cascode device.

11. The communication device of claim 10 wherein the second polarity driver circuit generates a transmit signal component of the differential signal having a second polarity.

12. The communication device of claim 11 wherein the second cascode device outputs the transmit signal component.

13. The communication device of claim 10 wherein the second data input signal comprises an input voltage signal, and wherein the first amplifier and the first current source convert the input voltage signal into a corresponding current signal that is output to the first cascode device, and wherein the third amplifier and the second current source convert the input voltage signal into a corresponding current signal that is output to the second cascode device.

14. The communication device of claim 10 wherein each of the second and fourth amplifiers increase gain provided by the first and second cascode devices, respectively.

15. The communication device of claim 10 wherein each of the second and fourth amplifiers are selected from the group consisting of a differential amplifier and a feedback amplifier.

16. The communication device of claim 10 wherein the each of the first and second cascode devices comprises a transistor.

17. The communication device of claim 10 wherein each of the first and second current sources comprises a transistor in communication with a load.

18. The communication device of claim 10 further comprising a bias signal device that generates the bias signal for biasing the first polarity and second polarity driver circuits.

19. The communication device of claim 18 further comprising a bias signal control device that controls the bias signal circuit to alter the bias signal.

20. The communication device of claim 10 further comprising an interface device that communicates with the first polarity and second polarity driver circuits and that interfaces the communication device to a communication channel.

21. The communication device of claim 10 wherein the first polarity driver circuit and the second polarity driver circuit are arranged in a differential configuration to output a differential signal.

22. The communication device of claim 21 wherein the differential signal comprises a gigabit Ethernet signal.

23. The communication device of claim 10 wherein the communication device is compatible with a standard selected from the group consisting of 10BASE-T, 100BASE-T, 100BASE-TX, 1000BASE-T and 10 GBASE-T.

24. The communication device of claim 10 wherein the communication device is formed on a monolithic substrate.

25. The communication device of claim 1 wherein the second amplifier receives feedback from a connection point between the first current source and the first cascode device.

26. The communication device of claim 1 further comprising a resistor that connects the first current source to ground.

27. The communication device of claim 1 wherein the first cascode device includes:

a first terminal;

a second terminal; and

a control terminal, wherein the second amplifier controls the first cascode device using the control terminal, wherein the second terminal is connected to the first current source, and wherein an output current is output from the first terminal.

28. The communication device of claim 27 wherein the output current modulates a transmission line.

29. The communication device of claim 1 further comprising a second polarity driver circuit, wherein a combination of outputs from the first and second polarity driver circuits modulates a transmission line.

30. The communication device of claim 29 wherein an output current from the first polarity driver circuit and an output current from the second polarity driver circuit flow through a load to modulate the transmission line.

31. The communication device of claim 30 wherein the load comprises a termination resistance.